Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-12
PART II.

And it was answered, even with Fay's arm
suspended over her with the deadly knife
in hand.
There was crashing and trampling in
the covert near them. Some one seized
each with an iron grasp and held them
apart. It was a very tall and powerful
man, in uncouth dress, much like the In
dian hunting suit. In the instant his at
teution was fully occupied with Fay, who
was making a desperate effort to release
herself from his grasp. 1t was useless,
and as she sullenly subsidized into quiet,
from sheer exhaustion, the giant burst into
laugh which made the very hills echo.
Nature seemed to have done nothing by
halves with him. His mirth was as huge
as bis person.
'Squaws a fitin'," be roared. oval,
I'm dernel if ever-whst in thunder
This beats your time Nate Lacey. | cum
aout airly. sneakin' round to git q few
squirril or partridge for the breakfast, and
have ketched two pretty dears."
He was so amused at this bit of his own
wit that he dropped down upon the ground
to laugh the easier. His grasp relaxed a
little as heidi 50, and Fay, like the trapped
wild creature she was, darted into the
thicket, and was out of sight in an instant
He spraug up aud renewed his grasp upon
his other captive, but the caution was need
less She stood perfectly still. Either the
shock had benumbed her faculties or de-
spair kept her silent. He looked at her,
and change from wonder to respect and
courtesy passed over his rough but open
and honest countenance.
You are not a squaw What can | DO
for you? Shall | take you to your
friends p
The words aroused Amber to a keen
sense of misery. To whom could she go ?
Where could she be sheltered from the
deadly malice of her enemy? Was ever
being so forlOrn She grew so pale and
faint that she was forced to drop down
upon the grass. Lacey watched her uneas-
ily, and muttered something about gittin'
a Vaughn to take her home" She reused
up at this and said
=" II there are women where you live
take me with you'll have no friends"
He said twas not far to camp, if she
could walk. She caught the word camp"
'' Are YOU 2 soldier ?'' she asked. eagerly.
Wal, no; we're movers from old Con-
necticut, bound for the O-hi-yo country.
Rachel-thats my sister, Jake-that's her
old man, and the young 'uns makes ten on
US, all in family. You see, | sorter belong
to Rachel and her'n. l never had no other
belongin' to me, for Rachel, she always
said was TOO humbly and orkerd for any
gal to have me. Butyou needn't be afeared
or me, if do look rongh."
'You look good and kind, and am not
afraid to trust you" said the poor girl.
Nate Lacey blushed through his tan with
pleasure, but could not command a word
for reply.
He led the way, which was not long. but
she grew white and would have fallen !;
then he took her up and carried her in his
strong arms. The area into which he pres
emily emerged from the thieket was a
grassy rim, surrounding one of those sin
gular lakelets found in limestone forma-
lions, which have ever been the despair of
geolosists This one, known since the set
Element of the country IS Green Lake, +"
from the color of its fathomless waters
clear as crystal. cold as ice, its edges
smooth as a bowl circular in form, and
with no visible outlet. 1t resembles closely
the crater of an extinct volcano filed with
water to the brim.
THE still green waters have held dread
full secrets since then but on the morning
Nate Lacey strobe into the little amphithe-
alter with his precious burden it was cheer
full with the homely tokens OF everyday
life and industry. A couple of huge EN-
igrant wagons, piled with all the truck =
of family, were most conspicuous. A
great kettle was steaming over a
blazing fire, the grass and bushes were or
namented with family washing, outdoing
in variety of hues the colors of Joseph's
historical coat. A smaller kettle, on an
other fire. gave TO the morning air an appe-
tizing promise of breakfast. Horses were
grazing here and there quietly; children,
dogs and domestic fowls swarmed in all
directions The chickens, brought in coops
for the sustsnance of the party, delighting
in their temporary freedom, kept up So
cable cackling.
Rachel Dunn, nearly as tall and as raw
boned as her brother, came forward TO meet
Nate, and stood SPECIFICS, looking down
on the figure he carried, with its still white
face lying against his shoulder.
Take her Rachel" he said hoarsely
she's only tainted
The woman took her tenderly in her
arms, without stopping to ask question,